Montreal Museum of Fine Arts

The Montreal Museum of Fine Arts (MMFA) is the largest art museum in Canada and one of the most family-friendly. Spread across five pavilions on both sides of Rue Sherbrooke in the Golden Square Mile neighborhood, the museum houses a collection spanning thousands of years, from ancient civilizations to contemporary installations, and it has made welcoming families a genuine priority.

The headline for families is the BMO Saturday Morning Family Time program. Every Saturday from 10 AM to 1 PM, families (defined as one or two adults with children 17 and under) get completely free admission, plus access to specially designed activities. These include guided tours tailored for young visitors, hands-on art workshops where kids create their own work, and interactive experiences that connect children directly to the art on display.

The program changes regularly, so repeat visits always offer something new.

Beyond Saturday mornings, the museum's permanent collection is rich enough to engage visitors of all ages. The decorative arts pavilion features period rooms that captivate curious kids — miniature recreations of historical interiors that feel like stepping into another era. The contemporary art galleries are full of bold, oversized works that kids respond to instinctively.

The world cultures collection includes ancient Egyptian artifacts and Indigenous art. And the five-pavilion layout, connected by underground tunnels, gives the visit a sense of exploration and discovery that keeps kids moving.

The pricing is remarkably generous. Everyone aged 25 and under gets in free, always. Quebec residents have free access to the permanent collections. Wednesday evenings from 5-9 PM are half price. And Saturday mornings are free for families. For most family configurations, you can visit this world-class museum for little to nothing.

The museum is fully accessible, with elevators connecting all floors and strollers welcome throughout. There is a gift shop with a good children's book section and an on-site café. The location on Rue Sherbrooke puts you in the heart of downtown Montreal, near the McCord Stewart Museum, McGill University, and the shops on Sainte-Catherine Street.

Plan for 2-3 hours, though art-loving families could easily spend longer. The key is to let kids lead — follow their curiosity, stop where they want to stop, and do not try to see everything in one visit.